Several hundred people on Saturday attended the Montana Caregivers Clinic, which organizers described as a one-stop-shop for people seeking information on medical marijuana.
Jason Christ, executive director of Montana Caregivers Network, the nonprofit group that organized the clinic, said that by 3 p.m., as many as 400 people had come to apply for medical marijuana cards, speak with doctors about the subject, gather information or connect with local and regional caregivers who can grow and provide them with medical marijuana.
"A lot of new patients come through and don't understand how the laws work or what they can and can't do," he said.
The clinic was held at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark.
In addition to a pair of doctors on hand and another two available to speak with people via computer, there were about 20 caregivers with tables advertising their wares and services. Most of them were local, with a few making the trip from nearby towns, such as Bozeman.
Faro Ruffino, co-owner of Highlife Wellness Center in Billings, said events like Saturday's clinic play an important role in informing users of medical marijuana and the community about the laws and stigmas surrounding use.
"It's not some crazy, 'Reefer Madness' drug," he said. "We need to break down some of those barriers."
Also on hand at the clinic were lawyers to offer legal advice on growing and possessing medical marijuana and other businesses that aren't caregivers but provided related services. Don Crawford runs the Billings-based Crawford insurance company, which includes in its services insurance for caregivers, something that wasn't available until March 1.
"It's been a real problem for a lot of these folks," he said. "But this is specifically designed for this industry and it can help provide a tighter definition with the law."
Montana voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana in 2004, but in the past year and a half the numbers of patients and caregivers have exploded. In 2009, the number of patients increased by 600 percent, and there are now more than 10,000 cardholders statewide.
As those numbers have grown, some cities around the state have placed moratoriums on growing businesses in recent months while they figure out how to regulate them.
Christ said the Montana Caregivers Network supports those decisions because it's important for communities to have input and be as educated as possible during the process.
"It gives them the opportunity to make these communities a nice place to live," he said. "People are here to live and we're just doing what we can to help people live a little bit better."
The Montana Caregivers Clinic continues today in Havre at the Townhouse Inn, on Monday in Great Falls at the old John Deer sales building, Tuesday in Kalispell at the Outlaw Hotel, and concludes Wednesday in Missoula at the Holiday Inn.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Billings Gazette
Author: ZACH BENOIT
Contact: The Billings Gazette
Copyright: 2010, The Billings Gazette
Website: Hundreds learn about medical marijuana
Jason Christ, executive director of Montana Caregivers Network, the nonprofit group that organized the clinic, said that by 3 p.m., as many as 400 people had come to apply for medical marijuana cards, speak with doctors about the subject, gather information or connect with local and regional caregivers who can grow and provide them with medical marijuana.
"A lot of new patients come through and don't understand how the laws work or what they can and can't do," he said.
The clinic was held at the Montana Pavilion at MetraPark.
In addition to a pair of doctors on hand and another two available to speak with people via computer, there were about 20 caregivers with tables advertising their wares and services. Most of them were local, with a few making the trip from nearby towns, such as Bozeman.
Faro Ruffino, co-owner of Highlife Wellness Center in Billings, said events like Saturday's clinic play an important role in informing users of medical marijuana and the community about the laws and stigmas surrounding use.
"It's not some crazy, 'Reefer Madness' drug," he said. "We need to break down some of those barriers."
Also on hand at the clinic were lawyers to offer legal advice on growing and possessing medical marijuana and other businesses that aren't caregivers but provided related services. Don Crawford runs the Billings-based Crawford insurance company, which includes in its services insurance for caregivers, something that wasn't available until March 1.
"It's been a real problem for a lot of these folks," he said. "But this is specifically designed for this industry and it can help provide a tighter definition with the law."
Montana voters approved the legalization of medical marijuana in 2004, but in the past year and a half the numbers of patients and caregivers have exploded. In 2009, the number of patients increased by 600 percent, and there are now more than 10,000 cardholders statewide.
As those numbers have grown, some cities around the state have placed moratoriums on growing businesses in recent months while they figure out how to regulate them.
Christ said the Montana Caregivers Network supports those decisions because it's important for communities to have input and be as educated as possible during the process.
"It gives them the opportunity to make these communities a nice place to live," he said. "People are here to live and we're just doing what we can to help people live a little bit better."
The Montana Caregivers Clinic continues today in Havre at the Townhouse Inn, on Monday in Great Falls at the old John Deer sales building, Tuesday in Kalispell at the Outlaw Hotel, and concludes Wednesday in Missoula at the Holiday Inn.
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: The Billings Gazette
Author: ZACH BENOIT
Contact: The Billings Gazette
Copyright: 2010, The Billings Gazette
Website: Hundreds learn about medical marijuana
